John Legends got another new album, EVOLVER, slated for release on Tuesday, October 28, and the multi-platinum-selling multiple-Grammy-winning artist has joined forces with CBS Television Network to help launch the album. Legend has given "Green Light," the album's first single, to CBS for use in the network's upcoming fall lineup promotional campaign, "The Biggest November Ever is Ready to Go on CBS," while a variety of tracks from EVOLVER will be heard during CBS daytime and prime time programming on October 28 and 30. In addition,, John Legend will also make appearances on CBS's morning news and late night programming.

The CBS on-air promo spots will feature shots from John's "Green Light" music video intermixed with images from the network's hit dramas, comedy and reality programs. Scheduled to launch Monday, October 27, "The Biggest November Ever" campaign will be broadcast nationally on the CBS Television Network as well as through local affiliates. John's "No Other Love" will be heard in the October 28 episode of "NCIS," Tuesday's #1 rated program and ranked #3 among all primetime shows. On October 30, CBS is also featuring John's new song "Cross the Line" on "The Young and the Restless," the top rated daytime drama for nearly 20 straight years. In addition to the CBS-sponsored opportunities, John Legend has been separately booked for appearances on the CBS shows "The Early Show" on October 28 followed by a performance on the "Late Show with David Letterman" on October 30.

Brain Culbertson’s Smooth Jazz Radio Show has been added to a new batch of radio affiliates around the country and we’ve go the full list. His show is typically broadcast every Saturday and Sunday from 6AM to 10AM. The full list of affiliates follows:

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Six Degrees Records has announced the signing of British soul singer Alice Russell for North and South America, whose sophomore studio album, Pot Of Gold, will be released digitally on Nov. 4th and on CD Jan. 6th. Alice Russell has gained an enviable reputation as one of the UK's hottest singers, having recorded with the likes of Massive Attack and The Quantic Soul Orchestra, performed with the The Roots and supported Femi Kuti, De La Soul and appeared on the bill with Amy Winehouse in Cannes 2007. Alice's recent collaboration with Ninja Tune's Mr. Scruff on 'Music Takes Me Up' is a standout track from his new album Ninja Tuna and was released to rave reviews. As for her own material, she's been distilling her sound, laying live strings, horns and piano to compliment very intimate and uplifting shift in her style for her new album, Pot Of Gold. So make sure you don't miss a chance to sneak a first peek of the new Alice Russell material during her U.S. tour dates this November - her nine date tour hits major markets including Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Part one of "Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia" -- a two-part PBS television special celebrating the enduring musical legacy of the mythic musical production/songwriting duo Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff and the entire family of Philadelphia International Records artists -- will premiere on KERA TV on Saturday, October 25th at 7:00PM, with subsequent airings across-the-country during the PBS December Pledge Week (please check your local listings).

Gamble & Huff are best-known as the creators of the classic Philly Soul Sound that began dominating music and radio charts in the early 1970s and continues to thrive into the 21st century.

A cornerstone event in Legacy Recordings' monumental Philly Soul reissue project, "Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia" was filmed during an historic live concert showcasing some of the greatest music and musicians in the Philadelphia International Records catalog including The O'Jays, Harold Melvin's Blue Notes, Russell Thompkins Jr. & The New Stylistics, The Delfonics, The Intruders, Jerry Butler, Bunny Sigler, Three Degrees, The Soul Survivors, Jean Carne, G.C. Cameron, and The Sound Of Philadelphia Orchestra.

The "Love Train" concert was filmed in front of a live audience on Saturday, June 7, 2008 at the landmark Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, documented in High Definition with a 11 camera set-up and state-of-the-art audio reproduction. Performances on part one of the "Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia" concert specials include "TSOP" (TSOP Orchestra with The Three Degrees), "The Love I Lost" (Harold Melvin's Blue Notes), "Expressway to Your Heart" (Soul Survivors), "I'm Stone In Love With You" (Russell Thompkins Jr. & The New Stylistics), "I Love Music" (The O'Jays), "Rubberband Man" (G.C. Cameron), "Me & Mrs. Jones" (Bunny Sigler), "Used To Be My Girl" (The O'Jays), "Wake Up Everybody" (Harold Melvin's Blue Notes), "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" (Bunny Sigler, Jean Carne, The Three Degrees), "Never Gonna Give You Up" (Jerry Butler), "La La Means I Love You" (The Delfonics) and "People Get Ready / Love Train" (The O'Jays ).

“Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia" is an unprecedented musical experience, the most comprehensive cavalcade of Philly Soul icons ever. Combining dramatic sets and vibrant lighting, inspired by the design aesthetic of Philadelphia International Records' classic album covers, with a non-stop succession of electrifying performances, "Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia" provides a 21st century venue for one of the greatest soul revues in concert history, a high energy tribute to the immortal sights andsounds of Philly Soul.

The "Love Train" Pledge Week broadcasts will offer PBS subscribers an expanded "Love Train" companion DVD as well as selections from the Legacy Recordings/Philadelphia International Records reissue catalog.The "Love Train: Sound of Philadelphia" DVD will include bonus tracks and an exclusive documentary overing the Gamble & Huff collaboration which has so deeply influenced popular music and culture over the past five decades. A second one-hour "Love Train: Sound of Philadelphia" special will be scheduled for pledge broadcast in 2009.

Friday, October 24, 2008

In conjunction with receiving a 2009 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Award today at Lincoln Center, legendary performer George Benson announced his new project as an online jazz guitar instructor at WorkshopLive.com. The new project will take the form of a members-only online club named "George Benson's Breezin' Lounge" where Mr. Benson takes a no-holds-barred look at his musical ideas, playing techniques, formative years and the inspiration which has made him one of the best jazz guitarists and performers in the world.

"My hope is that aspiring guitar players everywhere will get something valuable out of my candid comments and demonstrations," says Mr. Benson. Bob Land, Chief Marketing Officer of WorkshopLive added, "George Benson's playing is truly masterful so we're thrilled to be able to offer this incredible level of direct access to him and his music."

The lessons are unlike any other offered online or off and come complete with printable sheet music, animated notation, tab and most importantly a fretboard where students can watch Mr. Benson's riffs being played note-for-note, slow down the playback and practice like never before. The Breezin' Lounge also plans to offer lucky fans exclusive live Webcasts where Mr. Benson will perform and respond to questions.

George Benson's Breezin' Lounge is a service of WorkshopLive.com, the leading online community for learning music, using a proven methodology and curriculum. It is subsidized by advertising so members only pay $9.95/month for two super-sized lessons, Webcasts, forums, and the opportunity to learn directly from legendary master artists. These workshops are a great new way for the artists to connect with their fans and were introduced earlier this year.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Six time Grammy-nominated recording artist Anthony Hamilton is gearing up for a national tour that kicks off in Chicago, IL on November 5th, with 25 performances scheduled through December 13. The "Playin' It Cool" tour takes its name from the lead single "Cool" featuring David Banner, from Hamilton's forthcoming album, The Point Of It All, set for release on December 2nd.

The Southern-bred singer, who has been compared to Al Green and Donny Hathaway, is known to captivate his audiences with his phenomenal performances and soul-infused music. In 2006, Newsweek called him, "one of the music industry's best-kept secrets." People Magazine has named him "one of the most important R&B artists of his generation." The Point Of It All contains a wide range of raw soul-infused music with Hamilton at the helm co-writing the entire album and co-producing on the album as well with his longtime collaborators, producer/songwriter Mark Batson and Kelvin Wooten. Other producers on the album include The Avila Brothers and Jack Splash.

Most recently, Anthony Hamilton made his big-screen debut performing his poignant hit single "Do You Feel Me," in the Oscar-nominated American Gangster movie. He will also have a track in the upcoming film and soundtrack "Soul Men" starring Samuel L. Jackson and the late Bernie Mack. Over the past five years, Hamilton has established a loyal following from his 2003 platinum-certified debut album Comin' From Where I'm From, which spawned the hit "Charlene," which climbed to #3 on the R&B Albums chart and garnered him three Grammy nominations, to his last album, the gold-certified sophomore Ain't Nobody Worryin' released in 2005, which sparked the #1 hit "Can't Let Go." Hamilton is an "artist's artist" who has collaborated with a wide range of his peers including: Buddy Guy, Al Green, Dr. Dre, Santana, Angie Stone, Young Jeezy, Nappy Roots, Musiq Soulchild and more.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

In 1971, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff's Philadelphia International Records (PIR) began its odyssey to become "the second-largest African-American owned enterprise, second only to Motown," in the 1970s, according to Los Angeles Times writer Lynell George's opening liner notes essay. The evolution of the City of Brotherly Love from a decaying urban landscape into a modern mecca of soul music recording, production, songwriting and artist development, is explored in full panoramic depth on LOVE TRAIN: THE SOUND OF PHILADELPHIA. This deluxe 4-CD boxed set will be available at all physical and digital retail outlets starting October 21st through PIR/Legacy, a division of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.

LOVE TRAIN includes 71 tracks, an appropriate homage to PIR, which was launched by Gamble & Huff in 1971. Some 48 tracks represent the scope of PIR during its hitmaking prime, from the familiar sounds of the O'Jays, the only act to be found on all four discs ("Back Stabbers," "Love Train," "Time To Get Down," "Put Your Hands Together," "For The Love Of Money," "Give The People What They Want," "Let Me Make Love To You," "I Love Music," "Livin' For The Weekend," "Use Ta Be My Girl") to less frequently anthologized PIR artists including the Ebonys, Johnny Williams, the Futures, Bunny Sigler, People's Choice, Dee Dee Sharp, Jean Carn, the Jones Girls, and Leon Huff himself ("I Ain't Jivin', I'm Jammin'").In between is an indispensable collection of multiple tracks Â– hit singles, B-sides, album cuts Â– by PIR's flagship artists between 1971 and 1983: The Intruders, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Billy Paul, MFSB, The Three Degrees, Lou Rawls, the Jacksons, Teddy Pendergrass, McFadden & Whitehead, and Patti LaBelle, the artists who shaped the PIR dynasty and sent its commercial success into the stratosphere.

Fully one-third of the tracks on LOVE TRAIN are non-PIR recordings, broadening the scope magnanimously. The Delfonics, Jerry Butler, Dusty Springfield, Wilson Pickett, Joe Simon, the Stylistics, the Spinners, William DeVaughn, Trammps, the Manhattans, and Deniece Williams all utilized the talents of Gamble & Huff and their associates. Starting with 1967's "Expressway (To Your Heart)" on the Crimson label, the Top 5 pop/R&B crossover classic by the all-white psychedelic rock band Soul Survivors (written, produced and arranged by Gamble & Huff), the chronological program proceeds with a repertoire that is truly unique amongst collections of this kind.The chronology is placed in the context of a three-and-a-half-decade timeline that opens the lavish full color booklet accompanying LOVE TRAIN.

In addition to the timeline and extensive, complete discographic annotations on every track, the 15,000-word booklet includes nine sections of historic essays, memoirs, recollections, and interview conversations by a host of luminaries. Along with Lynell George, whose primary four-part 2,000-word opening essay is entitled "You Can Still Stand Tall: The Sound Of Philadelphia," the other notable contributors include:

- British writer and lecturer Maurice Bottomley ("The Next Stop That We Make Will Be England");

- English and African American Studies professor Gerald Early of Washington UniversÂ¬ity in St. Louis ("Am I Black Enough For You?");

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Grammy Award winning, multi-platinum recording artist Sarah McLachlan has claimed the # 11 spot with her first ever"greatest hits" collection entitled CLOSER: THE BEST OF SARAH MCLACHLAN (available on Arista) with a total of 39, 564 albums scanned, according to Nielsen SoundScan. This album marks Sarah's 5th Top 15 charting album, joining the ranks of Mirrorball, Surfacing, Afterglow, and Wintersong.

Closer: The Best Of Sarah McLachlan contains 14 classic tracks personally selected by the artist from her award-winning catalog, as well as two newly recorded and previously unreleased songs, "U Want Me 2" and"Don't Give Up On Us," working with her longtime producer Pierre Marchand. Additionally, a deluxe limited edition 2-Disc set was also released, which includes a 20 page booklet insert featuring rare photos and original pen and ink drawings by Sarah, and boasts 11 additional recordings from Sarah's discography.

Sarah performed her new song and Top 5 AAA radio hit "U Want Me 2" on Good Morning America, Regis and Kelly, CBS Early Show, Late Night With Conan O' Brien week of release and was featured on MSN, AOL, Yahoo, and MySpace, Imeem, Quicktime, and Clear Channel Online. People Magazine calls Closer "'The Reissue of the Week' ... This disc reminds us why Sarah never goes out of style." Billboard raves: "U Want Me 2" is the best song she has issued in this decade, a glorious return deserving ... a Grammy Award bidfor best female pop vocal performance."

Since joining Arista two decades ago, every one of Sarah McLachlan's studio and live albums and videos have been certified gold, platinum, or multi-platinum by the RIAA, starting with Touch (1988) and Solace (1991), both gold sellers. Her 1993 breakthrough, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy(triple-platinum) was followed by the digitally enhanced multimedia version of The Freedom Sessions (1995, gold). Sarah's landmark fifth album, the 8x-platinum Surfacing (1997), contained two Grammy Award-winning tracks, as "Building a Mystery" won for Best Female Pop Vocal, and "Last Dance" was voted Best Pop Instrumental. 1999's triple-platinum Mirrorball, and its platinum long-form video counterpart, were both culled from that year's Lilith Fair tour, and spun off Sarah's third Grammy-winning performance, as"I Will Remember You" won for Best Female Pop Vocal.

The double-platinum Afterglow followed in 2003, and received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album, while its opening track, "Fallen" was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal. 2007's Wintersong, was the #1 best seller on the HolidayAlbum charts that year, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Traditional PopVocal Album, and was certified Platinum, marking her 15th release to becertified gold, platinum, or multi-platinum by the RIAA.

Friday, October 17, 2008

In an effort to circumvent voter suppression tactics and confusion at the polls, award winning actress, Angela Bassett; Tonight Show bandleader, Kevin Eubanks; actress, LisaRaye McCoy Misick; and singer/actress, Brandy Norwood; are among the list of celebrities voicing public service announcements urging people to vote early or be first in line on Election Day. The joint initiative between American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) and the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) marks the second phase of their nonpartisan radio campaign aimed at ensuring African Americans cast a ballot that counts on Election Day. "We've already received numerous reports of possible voter suppression. It's essential to get the word out to vote early or be first in line to avoid the drama on November 4th," said Melanie L. Campbell, executive director and CEO, NCBCP. "AURN is the largest African American owned radio network company reaching 20 million listeners weekly. We appreciate AURN and all of the celebrities involved, their help ensures that the critical message to vote early will reach our target audience." Jerry Lopes, president of program operations and affiliations for AURN adds, "I am pleased to join hands with Unity '08, a group of prestigious organizations working to protect the rights that our ancestor's fought and died for. It was also a great opportunity to engage these celebrities and refreshing to see so many who wanted to help in the effort to protect our right to vote. I thank and applaud all of them for donating their time to this vital effort."

Tanya Hart, host of AURN's "Hollywood Live" coordinated the Los Angeles effort. Other celebrities participating in the campaign include: recording artists, James Ingram, Earth, Wind and Fire's, Verdine White, Siedah Garrett, Doc Powell and Take 6's, David Thomas. From the big and little screens: Obba Babatunde, Ernest Harden Jr., Reginald Dorsey, Regina Taylor, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Rolanda Watts, Hattie Winston, LaTonya Richardson Jackson, TV game show host, Mark Walberg and from BET's "Sunday Best," Beth Payne. Ambassador Shabazz, the daughter of Malcolm X, Susan L. Taylor, editor-in-chief emeritus of Essence magazine, and political comedian, Shang, also participated in the campaign. In addition to making an appeal for African Americans to be first to vote in this historic election, phase two of the PSA campaign encourages people to call the NCBCP's Unity '08 voter assistance hotline, 866-MYVOTE 1, to locate their polling place in advance. On the ground, NCBCP state coordinators are hosting get-out-the-vote rallies, monitoring the polls, and mobilizing voters in states where early voting has already started. During the initial phase of the campaign AURN produced and distributed voter education PSA's, while NCBCP representatives were on the ground in 18 states registering voters, hosting education forums, and making sure eligible voters verified their registration. For more information about the NCBCP's Unity '08 campaign visit www.blackcampaign.org. To receive a copy of the PSA's contact Lenore Williams at AURN at 412-456-4098 or via email Lenore Williams.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Pacific Coast Jazz, founded in 2003, is a boutique jazz label that also offers artist management services. All PCJ artists are distributed worldwide by MVD Audio/Big Daddy Music. The San Diego-based independent record label, has announced the addition of San Diego-based Brazilian jazz pianist, Danny Green, to their roster of distinctive artists. Green's own independent label, Alante Recordings, will now be an associate label under the Pacific Coast Jazz umbrella.

This affiliation anticipates the release of Green's first solo release With You In Mind, slated for a street date of January 20, 2009. "The quality of Danny's work is outstanding and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to high quality independent artists," says Donna Nichols, founder and president of Pacific Coast Jazz. Nichols' label has teamed up with publicist Joy Foster of SV Media Relations and radio promoter Neal Sapper at New World N'Jazz and will give Alante Records access to international media buying and retail distribution.

Clearly Danny Green has managed to carve out a place for himself in the lineup of young San Diego jazz artists who have a pulse on keeping the tradition of jazz piano alive while stepping boldly into the future through the use of cultural sounds and world music rhythms. With You In Mind is Danny's debut solo outing and was co-produced with Allan Phillips and features Justin Grinnell (bass), Dylan Savage (drums), Allan Phillips (percussion) and Tripp Sprague (soprano saxophone). In With You In Mind Danny Green combines both Brazilian and Latin influences and cradles them in mainstream jazz and classical nuances. As a result of Danny's musical influences his sound comes across to listeners as a pianistic mixture of Bill Evans, Brad Mehldau, Danilo Perez, and Ravel with original compositions emerging from the sincerity of his soul. "A beautiful addition to our artist roster," added Nichols.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Known for her inimitably sultry voice, country roots, and collaborations with the likes of Tony Bennett, k.d. lang has ranked #33 on VH-1's 100 Greatest Women in Rock & Roll in 1999 and #26 on CMT's 40 Greatest Women in Country Music in 2002. Her current tour highlights the critically acclaimed new release, Watershed, lang's first collection of original songs in almost seven years. Described as a snapshot of the singer/songwriter's aesthetic at this particular moment in her career, Watershed graciously pays homage to the musical path she has taken during the last 25 years. Lang's dedicated core following and casual fans of her chart-topping hit "Constant Craving" will all appreciate what has been hailed as her most confident and revealing work to date.

Of Watershed, lang explains, "(it) is like a culmination of everything I've done -- there's a little bit of jazz, a little country, a little of the Ingénue sound, a little Brazilian touch. It really feels like the way I hear music, this mash-up of genres, and I think it reflects all the styles that have preceded this in my catalogue." In addition to writing and singing, the Grammy-award winner produced the album, the first time lang has taken on this additional role. James Hunter of Rolling Stone says, "Watershed is first-rate singer-songwriter music; lang fuses the various styles she has tapped -- country, pop, Brazilian -- with an alluring integration. She produced herself, and when a steel guitar waltzes in with charming rightness on the otherwise art-song "I Dream of Spring," or soulful soprano tone floods the symphonic air on "Close Your Eyes," her work sings. With Watershed, k.d. lang does what the gifted and the lucky always should: improve as time passes."

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Multi-platinum Grammy-Award-winning recording artist and acclaimed performer John Legend will embark on an extensive worldwide concert tour kicking off November 19 in Minneapolis. The first leg of John's North American tour wraps up December 13 with a second leg running from January 12 through February 9. The upcoming John Legend concerts mark the artist's first major tour since his massively successful world tour in 2007 (captured on Live From Philadelphia CD and DVD). John's special guest on the tour's initial dates is his Columbia Records' label mate Raphael Saadiq, who will be performing songs from his just-released new album, The Way I See It.

One of the most eagerly awaited releases of 2008, EVOLVER is John Legend's first full-length studio album in two years and will be released October 28. Guests on EVOLVER include OutKast's Andre 3000, emerging hip-hop/soul ingenue Estelle, R&B/pop superstar Brandy and John's longtime collaborator Kanye West.Songs on EVOLVER include the single "Green Light" (featuring ANDRE 3000), "It's Over" (featuring Kanye West), "Everybody Knows," "No Other Love" (featuring Estelle), "Satisfaction," "This Time," "Cross The Line," "I Love, You Love," "Good Morning," "If You're Out There," and "Quickly" (featuring Brandy).

In December 2004, John Legend's debut album, Get Lifted, peaked at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart and became America's #1 Top R&B/Hip-Hop album in January 2005. A critical and commercial triumph, Get Lifted earned John an astounding eight Grammy nominations -- he won Best New Artist, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance ("Ordinary People") and Best R&B album -- while selling more than three million copies worldwide.John's second collection, Once Again, entered the Billboard Top 200 at #3 shortly after its release in October 2006, peaking at #1 on the R&B Album Sales chart, earning an RIAA platinum certification while securing two Grammy nominations: "Save Room" (for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance) and "Heaven" (which won Best Male R&B Vocal Performance).

John racked up his fifth overall career Grammy win in 2006 when "Family Affair" -- a track he'd cut with Joss Stone and Van Hunt for Different Strokes by Different Folks, a Sly & the Family Stone tribute album (Epic/Legacy) -- took home top honors in the Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals category.

In 2007, John Legend launched the Show Me Campaign (ShowMeCampaign.org), a grassroots movement whose mission is "to fight economic and spiritual poverty through fostering sustainable development (personal, social, educational, economic) at the individual, family, andsmall community levels."

Monday, October 13, 2008

The Detroit-born, Tony Rich began his career as a songwriter and producer, penning songs for Elton John, Boyz II Men, TLC and Johnny Gill, before releasing his 1996 debut album, Words. The hit single spawned from that album, "Nobody Knows", peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and climbed to number one in the UK. This propelled the single and album to sell more than one million units each and in 1997, Rich won a Grammy Award for the Best R&B Album. Since then, Rich released three critically praised albums: Birdseye, Resurrected and Pictures.

Now Tony Rich has released his newest album, EXIST, on September 23. EXIST has been described as a collection of songs that speak both to the heart and the mind. The lead single 'Part the Waves' currently sits at #31 (w/ a bullet) on Mediabase Urban AC chart. The album reviews are pouring in from the critics: Overall, the entire album is a melodic 11-track set that blends elements of soul, jazz and funk into what can best be described as a moving masterpiece. From the sensual tones of 'It Would Be A Sin (Without U)', to the familiar comfort of 'Jordan,' EXIST features all Rich-penned songs.

He was so inspired by his body of work that he photographed himself for the CD layout and designed the album packaging. The most intriguing of the photos is the CD back cover depicting a naked Tony Rich. While the image is polarizing, it is meant to show that one 'exists' even when stripped of all his or her worldly possessions. This is reflective of his career; starting with his huge commercial success in 1997 through the years of his fans wondering 'Where is Tony Rich' and finally the present, with him finding a home with Hidden Beach, known for its roster of quality artists.

In addition to iTunes and Amazon (and not to mention a bunch of much smaller players, it appears that EMI is preparing to launch a music service by the end of the year, representing the latest direct-to-consumer business being planned by a major label. Rumors are that the service may be located at emi.com. The music service will feature a mixture of paid and free content and may to include non-EMI artists as well, according to previous reports. EMI is not the only major considering the launch of a direct-to-consumer business. You would think that the major labels would of thought of this years ago – even before iTunes and Amazon got into position. It’s also rumored that the Universal Music Group is also planning to launch a site for its music videos as well as artist-focused content. The company currently has a large selection of its videos on universalmusic.com, a site that has advertisers such as AT&T and Traveler's Insurance. EMI is part of the EMI Group which is a music company comprised of the record company EMI, which operates several labels and is based in London, UK, and EMI Music publishing based in New York. EMI Music consists of over three million individual tracks and its artists include Charles Aznavour, The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Diana Ross, Corinne Bailey Rae, Tina Turner, David Bowie, Joss Stone, The Lenny Kravitz, Rolling Stones, Robbie Williams, The Animals, and The Beatles. EMI’s music labels include Blue Note, Capitol, Virgin, EMI, EMI Classics, Parlophone, and Capitol Nashville.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Harry Connick Jr. has amassed a remarkable resume of achievements since his first Columbia album in 1987, including more than 25 million albums sold, prestigious nominations in the areas of recording, theater, television and film, and a countless string of dynamic live performances. "What a Night! - A Christmas Album" is his first full-length release since his 2007 big band tribute to New Orleans, "Oh, MY NOLA," which debuted at #1 on the Billboard jazz chart and #11 on the Billboard 200. Connick will make a number of television appearances in support of "What a Night! – A Christmas Album," including the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony.

Among contemporary musicians, no one has reflected these feelings with greater honesty and artistry than the Grammy-winning, multi-platinum-selling Harry Connick, Jr., who celebrates once again with "What a Night! - A Christmas Album," available online and in stores on November 4 from Columbia Records.

Harry Connick is one of the few contemporary artists who have created his own holiday traditions. Beginning with "When My Heart Finds Christmas," his triple-platinum seasonal album of 1993, through "Harry for the Holidays," his chart-topping sequel from 2003 that included "The Happy Elf" (the inspiration for a new family musical), he has brought vitality, sincerity and unmatched musicality to the celebration. "What a Night! - A Christmas Album" was created in the same spirit, with new takes on old favorites as well as four of Connick's own compositions.

As always, Connick's approach to seasonal classics is fresh and infectious. With the support of his stellar big band, he makes "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" and "Jingle Bells" swing. Recalling his hometown New Orleans ("A great place to celebrate," he notes, "but with the temperature at 60 degrees or higher, we didn't have many white Christmases"), he gives "We Three Kings" a funk beat, turns playful on "Zat You Santa Claus?" and offers a bluesy "Please Come Home for Christmas." From the finger-snapping groove of "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas" and the majestic orchestral setting of "O Come All Ye Faithful" to an instrumental arrangement of "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies," Connick finds new ways to bring forth the spirit and meaning of these classic songs.

New music is also central to the celebration. "This is a very traditional CD in the way it sounds," Connick explains, "but what is not traditional is the inclusion of four new songs." Among them are the ballad "Christmas Day," the rollicking "Santarrific" featuring the voice and trombone of longtime colleague Lucien Barbarin, and the inspirational "Song for the Hopeful," a duet with gospel singer Kim Burrell featured in the Lifetime film "Living Proof," in which Connick stars as the doctor who developed the life-saving treatment for breast cancer. "Kim is one of the smartest musicians I've ever worked with, and one of the greatest voices of all time," says Connick. "Any chance I get to sing with her is a treat." Burrell is also featured on "Let There Be Peace on Earth," which Connick cites as "some of the best work she's ever done."

If one theme underscores the entire collection, it is the joy of celebrating with family. "Any parent knows that life is infinitely greater with children," Connick explains. "Christmas was great when I was a child, but nothing to compare with the Christmases I now have with my family." He makes the point explicit in the title track, which captures the excitement of Christmas Eve anticipation, and in a duet with his middle daughter Kate, who Connick calls "my most special guest," on "Winter Wonderland." "We recorded shortly before Kate's eleventh birthday," the proud father recalls. "It brought back some nice memories, because I was about Kate's age when I did my first recording."

Harry Connick Jr will be performing holiday shows this November and December in select cities in support of the album. Tour dates listed below, check local venues for ticket information.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Tony Bennett has recorded his first holiday CD in forty years since his 1968 release of "Snowfall," and this latest project, "Tony Bennett: A Swingin' Christmas Featuring The Count Basie Big Band," is destined to become an annual favorite of the season. Featuring 11 tracks, Tony swings such classics as "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Winter Wonderland," "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," and the CD introduces his daughter, Antonia, who duets with Tony on "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm." Phil Ramone, who has worked with Bennett on several of his recent outings including the multi-platinum "Duets: An American Classic," produced the CD. Danny Bennett, Tony's son and manager, is Executive producer. The recording and mixing was handled by Bennett's son, Dae Bennett, owner of Bennett Studios. The CD will be available everywhere on October 14 on RPM Records/Columbia Records.

"Tony Bennett: A Swingin' Christmas" was recorded live on the stage of Bergen Pac in Englewood, N.J., keeping with Bennett's mandate to embrace the live aspect of performing in the recording process. The Count Basie Orchestra joined Bennett for the sessions and jazz pianist Monty Alexander took on the role of Count Basie at piano. 2009 NEA Jazz Master recipient Toots Thielemans also makes a guest appearance on the recording. "Tony Bennett: A Swingin' Christmas" is available in the following formats: CD, a deluxe CD/DVD fan edition featuring the recording of the album and a holiday card package including 10 holiday cards with artwork by Tony Bennett plus the CD, and a deluxe CD/DVD fan edition plus a bonus holiday card painted by Tony Bennett.

Here is the track listing for TONY BENNETT: A SWINGIN' CHRISTMAS Featuring The Count Basie Big Band" is as follows:

"I'll Be Home For Christmas""Silver Bells""All I Want For Christmas Is You""My Favorite Things""Christmas Time Is Here""Winter Wonderland""Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas""Santa Claus Is Coming To Town""I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" (duet with Antonia Bennett)"The Christmas Waltz""O Christmas Tree"

Friday, October 10, 2008

Capitol/EMI has announced an expanded CD, CD/DVD and digital release of 'The Best Of Bond... James Bond' on October 28. The CD and digital album both feature 23 musical standouts from the Bond franchise's 46 years plus a previously unreleased bonus track, and the CD/DVD includes five music videos, a filmed concert performance and more. Just as James Bond has evolved over time, so have the films' memorable themes. 'The Best Of Bond... James Bond' collects an impressive selection of classic and contemporary Bond themes by many of popular music's top stars, including Paul McCartney and Wings' "Live & Let Die," Madonna's "Die Another Day," Duran Duran's chart-topping "A View To A Kill," Shirley Bassey's "Goldfinger," Tina Turner's "GoldenEye," kd lang's "Surrender," Sheryl Crow's "Tomorrow Never Dies," Chris Cornell's "You Know My Name," Carly Simon's "Nobody Does It Better," and Tom Jones' "Thunderball," among many others. John Arnold's previously unreleased "James Bond Theme" closes the collection.

EON Productions/Danjaq, LLC, is owned by the Broccoli family and has produced twenty two James Bond films since 1962, including 'QUANTUM OF SOLACE.' The James Bond films, produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, make up the longest running franchise in film history and include the recent blockbuster films 'GoldenEye,' 'Tomorrow Never Dies,' 'The World is Not Enough,' 'Die Another Day' and 'Casino Royale.' EON Productions and Danjaq LLC, are affiliate companies and control all worldwide merchandising of the James Bond franchise.

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Grammy Award-winning songstress Natalie Cole is back on the road this fall in support of her September release, Still Unforgettable, the highly anticipated follow up to the Grammy-winning favorite, Unforgettable ... With Love. Highlighting Cole's interpretation of timeless standards from the American Songbook as well as showcasing her signature hits, the tour will also feature anaccompanying big band. The tour hits Spotlight 29 Casino on January 17, 2009.

Natalie is an eight-time Grammy (R) Award winner, an accomplishment that speaks to her musicianship, her critically acclaimed abilities as a vocalist and her connection to her fans. Her canon includes such No. 1's as "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)," "Inseparable," "Our Love," "I've Got Love On My Mind," "Pink Cadillac" and "Miss You Like Crazy." She has sold more than 30 million albums.

Still Unforgettable is a 14-song collection that captures Natalie Cole's supple voice and impeccable phrasing as she continues her exploration of beloved American pop standards. Recorded in the legendary Capitol Studios in Hollywood, CA, the album features Cole lending her voice to such classic tracks as "The Best Is Yet To Come," "Nice 'N Easy," "Come Rain Come Shine" as well as a memorable duet with her late father Nat King Cole on "Walkin' My Baby Back Home."

For this new album Cole looked beyond songs made famous by her father. "I decided to go deeper into the American Songbook and not just get songs from my father, but also from Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Sammy Davis Jr. and Peggy Lee. The lyrics of these songs are about life. As a singer, they take me and my audience on a winsome journey." The live show will feature performances of these musical gems, accompanied by a big band. "I still love recording and still love thestage, but like my dad, I have the most fun when I am in front of that glorious orchestra or that kick-butt Big Band."

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Laura Nyro (1947-1997) was one of the most remarkable popular music artists of the late 20th century - a pioneering singer-songwriter whose songs were beloved both in their original performances and in successful cover versions by the Fifth Dimension, Barbra Streisand, Three Dog Night, and Blood, Sweat & Tears. Nyro had two audiences--a cult following that adored her high-priestess persona and whisper-to-a-scream vocals, and mainstream music fans who might have been unaware of Nyro herself but happily sung along with "Wedding Bell Blues," "Stoney End," "Eli's Comin'" and "And When I Die." Nyro's influence is cited by multiple generations of famous fans, from Todd Rundgren and Rickie Lee Jones to Fiona Apple and Jenny Lewis.

Season Of Lights…Laura Nyro In Concert (originally released 1977) documents Nyro's triumphant return to the stage after half a decade in self-imposed artistic exile. Joining Nyro is a nine-piece band led by jazz players John Tropea, Richard Davis, and Mike Mainieri, who add inspired new textures to a set spanning her first decade (1966-1976) as a writer and performer. Additionally, Nyro delivers several breathtaking solo performances accompanied only by her piano. Nyro conceived Season Of Lights as a double live album, but Columbia Records released it in 1977 as a 10 song single LP. Iconoclassic Records' reissue restores the set to its intended 16 song length. This deluxe, expanded CD blends signature tracks from Nyro's early period ("And When I Die," "Sweet Blindness," "Emmie") with songs from her then-current studio release Smile and exclusive material like "The Morning News" which was never recorded in the studio and appears only here. Blurt praises Iconoclassic's "more complete encapsulation of Nyro's performance prowess, an album that rivals Joni Mitchell's stunning Miles Of Aisles in terms of its jazz/rock synthesis."

Season Of Lights includes over 75 minutes of music remastered by Grammy® Award winning engineer Vic Anesini and new liner notes by Michele Kort, author of the definitive Laura Nyro biography Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro. Popdose.com raves, "Iconoclassic Records has beautifully remastered the album and presented it in its full glory . . . In a year that has offered beautiful reissues from the likes of Dennis Wilson (Pacific Ocean Blue) and Otis Redding (Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul), this album rises to the top of the list."

Nyro followed the live Season Of Lights with the 1978 studio set Nested, her eighth album. The richly autobiographical Nested focuses lyrically on impending motherhood, her up-and-down love life, music business greed, and the nature of the universe. A more intimate sound marks a departure from her acclaimed early work and spotlights instrumental contributions from John Sebastian (The Lovin' Spoonful), Felix Cavaliere (The Rascals), and Vinnie Cusano (KISS's Vinnie Vincent). Record Collector praises this "belated CD release for a pivotal record" noting that Nested is "an important album for marking out the direction of Nyro's future writing, the precocious talent of those first records fully blossoming into an older, wiser woman observing the world with wry detachment." Largely ignored or misunderstood upon initial release, Nested can now be heard as the fulcrum on which her early and later career pivoted.

Iconoclassic's 30th anniversary reissue of Nested adds an incisive 1,200 word essay by Kort and additional photographs of Nyro by acclaimed fashion photographer Adger W. Cowans, who shot the original album cover.

Season Of Lights…Laura Nyro In Concert and Nested are available in stores and online now.

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

As a famous politician admitted recently, many members of the older generation who have to live daily in a technological world that has long outdistanced their electronic skills … still don't know beans about computers. And what's more, they don't care to. Yet that computer-illiterate segment of the boomer-and-older group often looks longingly at PC email capabilities and LP-to-CD recorders that transfer old vinyl record albums to a CD format--both generally dependent on computer technology. That conflict, says firstSTREET, a direct marketing company quartered near Richmond, Va., accounts for the success of their all-in-one music duplicating system that records a boomer's favorite albums and cassettes directly to CDs, without the need for a computer.

Chris Fawcett, COO of firstSTREET, says the strong point for the company's LP Saver Phono CD Recorder is twofold: "One, you don't need a computer to use it; it's a self-contained unit. And two, you don't need an engineering degree to operate it." Fawcett says the LP Saver is one of the easiest-to-use systems that firstSTREET has found anywhere. "Basically, to record an LP to CD, you'd press the Phono button, lower the tone arm onto the edge of the record or onto the song on the album you want on CD, and press Play. I don't think it gets any easier than that." firstSTREET says there are probably hundreds of thousands of music lovers who still have closets and shoeboxes full of record albums and cassettes around the house, some unlistened to for 30 years or more but containing music still significant and memorable to the ones who purchased it long ago.

"It's pretty much impossible financially to rebuild your LP collection by going out and buying new CDs of all those old albums," says Fawcett. "A simple, fast and reasonably priced unit that transfers those records and cassettes to a crisp, clean CD format, without computer involvement, is really meeting a need for the demographic that grew up buying 45s, albums and cassettes."

Those who no longer even have a phonograph or cassette deck in the house will appreciate the LP Saver's three-speed turntable, cassette deck and CD player. The complete system is housed in an attractive rosewood-finish cabinet, and Fawcett says the sound quality is quite good. He says one customer told him she hasn't owned a car with a cassette player in 10 years. "She's having a ball now listening to all her old cassettes, in between her 'recording sessions.' She said her grown children were even listening to her old albums now that there's a turntable in the house again."

Fawcett points out that music was and is an incredibly important part of life to the baby boomer generation, as well as to those who grew up in the big band, swing and jazz eras. "It's a great joy to those devotees to be able to bring the music of their time into the present and into a present-day format that makes it easily accessible. This is the kind of thing firstSTREET focuses on--we're always looking out for ways to make life easier and more enjoyable for our baby-boomer-and-beyond customer base."

SIRIUS XM Radio has announced an unprecedented offering of new programming packages and better pricing. The company's "Best of Both" programming options and A La Carte channel choices are available effective immediately. For the first time ever, XM subscribers can add select SIRIUS channels to their existing service, and SIRIUS subscribers can add select XM channels to their service. These "Best of Both" packages will be available at a monthly cost of $16.99, which is only $4.04 more than the cost of a monthly subscription to one of the services. Most subscribers can add the premier programming without purchasing a new radio.

XM subscribers can add "The Best of SIRIUS" featuring Howard Stern and his two 24/7 channels; Martha Stewart Living Radio dedicated to entertaining, cooking and more with Martha and her lifestyle experts; SIRIUS NFL Radio and play-by-play of every NFL game through the regular season, playoffs and Super Bowl; SIRIUS NASCAR Radio and broadcasts of every NASCAR race; and the smart and sexy exclusive talk of Playboy Radio. XM subscribers will also have access to play-by-play action from the country's leading college teams.

In addition, SIRIUS subscribers can add "The Best of XM" channels featuring Oprah Winfrey and her full time channel, Oprah & Friends; The Virus featuring irreverent radio personalities Opie and Anthony, as well as comedic daytime hosts Ron and Fez; XM Public Radio featuring exclusive interviews and documentaries from the award winning Bob Edwardss play-by-play of select NBA and NHL games; and live coverage of all the events of the PGA TOUR. SIRIUS subscribers will also have access to play-by-play of select games from college's biggest conferences.

Monday, October 06, 2008

I just love it when traditional radio outlets defy the odds and attempt to make a statement. Such a station is 98.1 The River (Asheville, NC). Just announced is that the Asheville Radio Group is launching 98.1 The River effective last Wednesday, Oct. 1, and promises to provide area listeners with an eclectic mix of tunes. A recent press release for the station suggests that listeners want “a radio boutique ... without silly DJs and mainstream radio hype.” A rundown of the big-name acts you can expect to hear includes the Dave Matthews Band, Sara Bareilles, My Morning Jacket, Amos Lee, G. Love & Special Sauce, Bob Marley, REM, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello and Jack Johnson. While the potential offerings aren’t college-radio cutting-edge, they are a departure from the typical pop radio of traditional Top-40 shows. There are also plans for local-centric specialty programming on the River. General Manager Bob Bolak says it will probably be along the lines of “Local Licks” on the Mountain, but with singer/songwriters and other artists in the genres represented by the River. Local musicians will be able to suggest their bands through the station’s Web site. The station is set to launch with 10,000 songs in a row — uninterrupted. If you do the math it works out to about a month’s worth of music. During that time, listeners are invited to send their comments, criticisms and suggestions to comments@981theriver.com. I’d like to see more stations around the country bail out on the corporate bigwigs and their so-called song research statistics and just play the stuff that people already have on their iPods (just cause we can’t hear it on the radio). Kudos to 98.1 for having the guts to do this. Let’s hope it become the new norm.

Moutin Reunion Quartet features twins, Louis and Francois, with Rick Margitza on saxophone and Pierre de Bathmann on piano. The quartet started 2007 as they toured the US in January, continued with a European tour in February; while recording its fourth album "Sharp Turn". In April, the quartet was in residence for a week at the Opera National de Lyon and for three days at the Ballard Jazz Festival in Seattle, WA. They toured the USA in June through September, also appearing in several festivals in France and in Turkey. After the release of "Sharp Turns" early November, the band has been on the road again for a 15 date tour, starting in France mid November and then going to the USA from east cost to west coast, ending at Jazz Alley in Seattle mid December. The conclusion of the year was an appearance at l 'Olympia in Paris for the annual show of the Parisian major jazz radio TSF. Early 2008 brought the highly energetic critically acclaimed group to the states, with appearances in Ann Arbor and Detroit, Michigan; Syracuse, New York; Chicago, and a tour de force performance at their South Bend debut at Trio's, adding another great review to their collection book.

Sunday, October 05, 2008

R&B-soul singer-songwriter D'Angelo has returned with his new single "I Found My Smile Again (Radio Edit)", which is slated for a September 30th release date exclusively through iTunes. The track is a true representation of D'Angelo's soul fusion, as the song is sprinkled with hints of hip hop, funk and jazz and layered with some of the most charismatic R&B vocal styling.

D'Angelo was one of the founding fathers of R&B soul movement of the mid- to late '90s, which took classic R&B fused it with new age hip-hop soul. D'Angelo's debut album, "Brown Sugar" earned him significant critical acclaim from the likes of Rolling Stone Magazine who proclaimed, "D'Angelo keeps moving forward even when he's looking in the rearview mirror. Like his fellow retrolutionaries Me'Shell NdegéOcello, Joi, Omar and Dionne Farris, he's shattering the conventional definition of black music." The album's double platinum success triggered extensive touring and soundtrack recordings for films like Space Jam, Get On The Bus, Down In The Delta, and Scream 2; and a duet with Erykah Badu for the "Marvin Is 60: A Tribute Album".

The singer-songwriter's follow-up, "Voodoo", debuted at number one on the Billboard Top 200, despite a five-year wait in between and positioned him firmly a the top of the R&B heap. Produced and written by D'Angelo and recorded live with no overdubs, "Voodoo" featured high profile collaborations with Raphael Saadiq, Lauryn Hill, Q-Tip, Method Man and Redman. The album took D'Angelo's career to new heights and earned the singer songwriter his first of two Grammy Awards for Best R&B Album, and D'Angelo also won the Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Untitled (How Does It Feel)."

D'Angelo is currently putting the finishing touches on the next chapter in his book of musical fusion with his third solo offering, which is slated for release in early 2009 through the RCA Music Group and J Records.

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Grammy winner, Robin Thicke has a top 5 hit on his hands with "Magic," the lead single from his new album, "Something Else," due Sept. 30 from Interscope Records / Star Trak Records. The certified platinum soul singer is truly creating the "magic" with a first-of-its-kind partnership with GenAudio, which is debuting its new audio technology, AstoundStereo(TM), by providing alternate mixes of six tracks from "Something Else." "As an artist, having this kind of technology is a dream come true. My goal is to always have my audience hear my music on a deeper level, so I am thrilled about AstoundStereo(TM)," says Robin Thicke.

The six AstoundStereo(TM) re-mixed tracks -- "Magic," "Sidestep," "Dreamworld," "Sweetest Love," "Shadow of Doubt" and "Cry no More" – are available as a gift-with-purchase for anyone who orders the digital version of the album on the artist's website (robinthicke.com) or the physical CD on Amazon.com. Robin Thicke is the first artist to showcase his music usingAstoundStereo(TM).

Developed by GenAudio, the new technology, AstoundStereo(TM), is the next dimension in the evolution of audio. A next generation 4D audio technology, AstoundStereo(TM) immerses the listener with sounds, elevating and widening the sonic landscape to create a much more enjoyable listening experience. "This will change the way the world listens to audio," says Jerry Mahabub, Chairman/CEO of GenAudio. "AstoundStereo(TM) is not only the next dimension in the evolution of audio, it will become the new standard for listening to audio."

AstoundStereo(TM) requires no special hardware or decoding. Headphones or two speakers are all that is needed to experience 4D audio. In addition to providing for a better stereo listening experience, AstoundStereo(TM) also integrates seamlessly with all Surround Sound delivery formats yielding a better multi-channel audio experience. In other words, it is compatible with all audio playback systems including but not limited to home theater setups, portable music players, computers, car stereos, etc.

Interscope Records credits the artist's musical palette for the GenAudio partnership. "There is an inherent richness to Robin's music, as well as a variety of musical styles, that we thought would work well with the new GenAudio technology -- and it does," says Ted Mico, EVP of Digital at Interscope Geffen A&M (IGA). "We see this as a good fit between artist and technology."

Thicke's customized Musicane widget will be posted on his official site (http://www.robinthicke.com/) offering fans the opportunity to buy the entire album and/or individual songs directly from him, via his website. Fans that buy his album directly from his site will instantly be able to download the AstoundStereo(TM) files directly from the widget. The widget will contain previews of the album, news, videos and, for the first time, sell his branded merchandise. The digital music downloads sold via Thicke's Musicane will offer his full catalog in unrestricted 320 kbps MP3 format. All music is DRM-free and will be playable on any portable and home music players including the Apple iPod(R) and iPhone(R).

Robin Thicke's manager Neil Jacobson, of Interscope Management, concurs. "I compared the original mixes versus the AstoundStereo(TM) mixes on all six tracks," he says. "You can close your eyes and hear how the audio expands around your ears and above your head -- it completely immerses you in Robin's music. This technology takes Robin's music to a newlevel."

Because Robin Thicke's music is varied -- from upbeat and funky to soulful and atmospheric -- GenAudio showcases the different ways that AstoundStereo(TM) can be applied to different styles of music, Mahabub explains. "With Robin having such a wide range of musical style, it enabled us to have a new level of creativity using our AstoundStereo(TM) technology." From a marketing perspective, Interscope now has a different type of bonus offering for Robin Thicke fans. "This is a great incentive for fans to buy the album," Jacobson notes. "This is real, tangible, and makes perfect sense."

Friday, October 03, 2008

Last May, Daryl Hall and John Oates took the stage at the legendary Troubadour for the first time since playing their earliest Los Angeles shows there 35 years before. The best performances from this much anticipated two-night concert, which included hits such as "Maneater," "Private Eyes," "Rich Girl," "Sara Smile" and "Kiss On My List," will be made available in three formats - DVD, Blu-Ray, and a 1-DVD/2-CD combo, via Shout! Factory on November 25. Beyond the classic hits, the sold-out shows featured rarely performed fan favorites and deep album cuts, as well as Daryl Hall solo material, with the duo backed by a band comprised of longtime member T-Bone Wolk on guitar and voccls, Mike Braun on drums, Charles DeChant on sax, keys and vocals, Eliot Lewis on keys and vocals, Zev Katz on bass, and Everett Bradley on percussion and vocals.

The concerts were filmed by Blaze TV with 10 remote-controlled HD cameras, allowing the viewer to experience the performance as if they were inside the crowded LA club. Although an abridged version of the show will be broadcast on VH1's Rave HD channel in late 2008, the Live At The Troubadour DVD will be the only way to catch performances of all of the songs, as well as exclusive new interviews with Hall and Oates.

Originally formed in Philadelphia in 1972, Daryl Hall & John Oates have enjoyed six #1 singles between the mid-'70s and the mid-80's, including "Rich Girl" (also #1 R&B), "Kiss on My List," "Private Eyes," "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" (also #1 R&B), "Maneater" and "Out of Touch," from their six consecutive multi-platinum albums -- '76's Bigger Than Both of Us, '80's Voices, '81's Private Eyes, '82's H2O, '83's Rock N Soul, Part I and '84's Big Bam Boom. The era would also produce an additional 5 Top 10 singles, "Sara Smile," "One on One," "You Make My Dreams," "Say It Isn't So" and "Method of Modern Love."

Hall and Oates have recently been receiving recognition from younger artists including KT Tunstall, Gym Class Heroes and Finger Eleven, all of whom have appeared on Daryl's media and fan-praised web show, http://www.livefromdarylshouse.com/ the captivating series that has been receiving kudos from Rolling Stone, Spin, Daily Variety and the influential Lefsetz Letter.

Daryl also wrote the H&O single "Everytime You Go Away," which singer Paul Young scored a number-one hit with a cover of the song in 1985. That same year, Daryl and John, participated in the historic "We Are the World" session as well as closing the Live Aid show in Philadelphia. By 1987, the R.I.A.A. recognized Daryl Hall and John Oates as the NUMBER-ONE SELLING DUOin music history, a record they still hold today.

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Six Degrees Records has recently announced the signing of Vieux Farka Touré, the fast rising Malian guitarist, singer, songwriter, and son of the legendary Ali Farka Touré. Vieux quickly stepped into the spotlight after the release of his self-titled debut album in 2006, which continues to receive press accolades worldwide. Starting the second week of September, Vieux is embarking on his fall North American tour that includes New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, and more (see full tour dates below). He is hot on the heels of three months of touring Europe, the U.S. and Canada this summer followed by the critically acclaimed African James Brown tribute tour entitled "Still Black, Still Proud," alongside Brown's players saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis and trombonist Fred Wesley.

Born in 1981, Ibrahim "Vieux" Farka Touré is a Malian singer and guitarist born in Niafunke, Mali. Touré is the son of famed African musician Al Farka Toure. Vieux's debut solo album, released online in fall 2006 and in retail worldwide February 2007, features Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabate on several tracks. His touring band consists as follows:

As a result of so many major-market radio stations dropping the Smooth Jazz format, it’s no wonder that Greater Media has officially partnered with AccuRadio to produce PhillySmoothJazz.com, described as a new, unique online music station which provides Philadelphia’s dedicated jazz and R&B fans with a place to hear all of their favorite Smooth Jazz artists. Greater Media, if you recall, is the same company, who after two years dropped the smooth jazz format over at WJJZ in Philadelphia on September 9. Then they turned around and resurrected the format online in partnership with Radio and Internet Newsletter (RAIN) founder Kurt Hanson. This should satisfy the 20,000 or so core smooth jazz fans over in Philadelphia who were nothing short of pissed when they tuned on the radio one day only to find that the format has changed.

PhillySmoothJazz.com is the worlds' first multi-channel Smooth Jazz radio station, offering six different channels of Smooth Jazz. These options include a main channel, plus Smooth Piano Jazz, Smooth Guitarists, Smooth Saxophones, Smooth Jazz Vocals, and Smooth Instrumentals. Once listeners launch a channel, they can personalize it to their individual tastes, including skipping songs they don't like, or even "deselecting" artists they don't want to hear. Additional channels slated to be unveiled later this month include Broadway Jazz, Groove Jazz, and a Smooth Jazz channel devoted specifically to Philadelphia-based musicians. In addition, the "Other Channels" tab on the media player will provide Jazz fans with access to 14 channels of Mainstream Jazz. The webcast is available now at http://www.phillysmoothjazz.com/.